The Versesmith

 Colleen of Tanka Tuesday has offered the follow syllabic poetry prompt.  This will be the last Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge as Colleen has retired the challenge.  "This week, we’re using the Native American Zodiac for inspiration. Find your sign and write a syllabic poem about your zodiac animal." Image from Threads  Based on my birthdate, my Native American Zodiac Sign is The Salmon.* So, for this last Tanka Tuesday, on the last day of 2024, I offer a haiku.  Fortunately, " salmon spawning time " is indeed a kigo phrase. Kokanee salmon in Kokanee Creek, B.C. Canada  where the salmon spawn water runs shallow and clear bear, osprey, gather ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  Lockhart Creek Camp - bears and osprey need not heed the warning! *Photos are from a childhood vacation in Canada.  Other than salmon as food (and my dog refuses any protein but salmon!) these spawning Kokanee are my only experience with the fish.  I w...

Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge: Haiga This week Melissa asks us to create a "'... haiga using a photo or illustration and a haiku ."   She asks that we remember in a haiga " The image is not an illustration for the poem, nor is the poem a caption for the image! Each should be able to stand alone, and neither should need the other to complete it." photo ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson #tankatuesdaypoetrychallenge #tankatuesday #haiga #photohaiku #haiku #syllabicpoetry 

 The Sunday Whirl  Wordle # 685   Prompt words in red.  In the remote and misty mountains the fresh snow dusts the path I follow . My candles provide minor light, but still the snow sparkles as if by magic , as the moonlight breaks through the clouds.  I reach the slippery steps leading up to a heavy oak door. It opens to my knock, and I hear the laugher from within. I carefully scrape the snow off my boots, leaving them in the entryway as I bask in the warmth of the fire within. my friends awaiting in the sunken living room strings ready to strum and crystal champagne flutes filled ready to toast the new year ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved

The creator of Wordsmith.org, Anu Garg, has said, " A ll the life's wisdom can be found in anagrams. Anagrams never lie ."  Frightening thought when you input your name and  come up with some pretty odd phrases!  I used  https://anagrammaker.com , searching with my married name, and again with my maiden name.  The results?  I'm not sure of the wisdom or accuracy, but it was fun!  Some lines contain the full phrases, others words often used within other phrases.  I'm linking to Poets and Storytellers United  for Friday Writings, but not on theme.   wordart.com I could inhale lime snot, or lint moss. I could list manhole sins, of which there are many, wax poetic on my tonsils, or my loins, (No! Never that!) in manliest slosh. Watch the line of ants go on a mission to hell, while I ponder lassos and holiness, loans and limos. In the end, it comes down to endless online shit slams. Lithe sad simian, aimless messia...

  Ronovan Writes Ovi Poetry Challenge 78: TEMPTATION is your inspiration. Temptations at this time of year include the cookies, I do fear. We offer up with our good cheer, and none are left for Santa. Sugar cutouts, gingerbread, frosting green and white and red. Save for later, or instead. let's eat them all right now! Hands are sticky, faces too, joyful children, baking crew. Messy house when we are through, but such a happy home. ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved #ovi #ovipoetry #ronovanwritespoetrychallenge #syllabicpoetry #syllabicpoem #ronovanwrites

  Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge: Photo Prompt For this week's Challenge " you’ll be writing syllabic poetry inspired by the following photo ."  I have written a  senryū. ©2023 Lisa Smith Nelson  glory days so bright in his mind faded star   ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved #tankatuesdaypoetrychallenge #tankatuesday #photopromptpoetry #senryu #syllabicpoetry #syllabicpoem 

Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge: Javanese Poetry Shalom, Friends! For those who may not know me, my name is David (‘ben Alexander’) Bogomolny, and I’m really happy to be hosting this week’s #TankaTuesday challenge. This week we are going to try a new (to us) poetic form. So, this week’s challenge is to compose a ‘Sekar ageng’ poem of your own, according to the following rules, as laid out by Murisopsis: Sekar ageng – This Javanese form is traditionally recited as a song. The modern form is comprised of any number of quatrains (4 line stanzas) with 17 syllables per line. Each line is divided by caesurae (breaks) after sections of 4 syllables, 6 syllables and 7 syllables in that order. potato soup / a simple winter meal / warm with crusty sourdough bread not my tubers / my neighbor shares with me / I'll save a bowl in return along with bread / it's the least I can do / to repay his gracious gift at the window / I watch the snow falling / grateful the day's chores are...